Arrow sight and bowstring tension control

ABSTRACT

An arrow sight and bowstring tension control for mounting on a bow including a sight frame rotatably mounted to the bow above the arrow, the rotational position of which is determined by the tension in the bowstring, whereby as the bowstring and arrow are drawn, the sight frame is lowered to rest on the arrow. At a predetermined bowstring tension portions of a sight on a sight assembly carried on the sight frame are brought into alignment to form a rear sight, thereby allowing the archer to sight between the rear sight alignment and a second sight mounted on the bow.

United States Patent Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley Attorney-Richard A. Bachand ABSTRACT: An arrow sight and bowstring tension control for mounting on a bow including a sight frame rotatably mounted to the bow above the arrow, the rotational position of which is determined by the tension in the bowstring, whereby as the bowstring and arrow are drawn, the sight frame is lowered to rest on the arrow. At a predetermined bowstring tension portions of a sight on a sight assembly carried on the sight frame are brought into alignment to form a rear sight, thereby allowing the archer to sight between the rear sight alignment and a second sight mounted on the bow.

PATENTEU NOV 9 I971 FIG.1

FIG. 6

ARROW SIGHT AND BOWSTRING TENSION CONTROL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Brief Description of the Invention This invention relates to bow-and-arrow apparatus, and more particularly to an arrow sight and bow-string tension control.

An object of the invention is to provide an arrow sight for mounting on a bow, which is inexpensive to manufacture and is of simple construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrow sight for mounting on a bow, which is accurate and easy to use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an arrow sight for mounting on a bow, which has means for controlling the draw of the bow to a predetermined bowstring tension.

These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when read in combination with the appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an arrow sight in accordance with the invention, mounted on a bow of standard design.

FIG. 2 illustrates the bow of FIG. 1 in a drawn position and the relationship of the sight thereto, in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sight frame of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the arrow-retaining means of FIGS. I and 2, carried by the sight frame of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the arrow sights and bowstring tension control carried by the sight frame of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the sight frame draw line of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the draw line anchor of FIGS. 1 and 2.

And FIG. 8 is a plan view of the front bowsight of FIGS. I and 2.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an arrow sight frame 4 for mounting on a bow l of standard design just above the position occupied by an arrow 3 during aiming before shooting. At its forward end, the sight frame 4 as fastened to a frame support 9 by a hinge 8 (see FIG. 3), which allows the sight frame 4 to be rotatably moved up and down. The frame support 9, provided with a plurality of holes (not shown), may be secured with screws or the like (not shown) to the how 1. A spring 11 is fastened between the sight frame 4 and the frame support 9 to downwardly bias the sight frame 4. Near its center, the sight frame 4 has a plurality of holes 5 for adjustably attaching a draw line 28 to control the rotational position of the sight frame 4. Near the back of the sight frame 4 is a first hole 6 to secure an arrow-retaining means 12 and a second hole 7 to secure an arrow sight assembly 10.

As shown particularly in FIG. 4, the arrow-retaining means l2 has two prongs, I3 and 14, one to rest on each side of arrow 3. The opposite end of arrow-retaining means 12 is mounted on the sight frame 4 within the hole 6, and is adjustably held in place therein by two nuts 15 and 16 on a threaded shaft.

As shown in FIG. 5, the arrow sights and bowstring tension control 10 includes a sight housing 17 of two similar pieces, front and back, fastened together, for example, at top and bottom, to hold therebetween a sight control arm 26. The front and back pieces should be sufficiently spaced apart for sight control arm 26, pivoted between the pieces of sight housing 17 with a pin 23, to freely move up and down. A spring 19 normally urges the lever arm 20 holding sight control arm 26 in a downward position (not shown). When the bow 1 is drawn, as shown in FIG. 2, the sight frame 4 is lowered, carrying sight housing I down onto the arrow 3, allowing the arrow rest 22 to contact the arrow 3 and raise the sight control 26. Thus, as the archer draws the bow I, the sight control arm 26 is raised to the exact point where the upper plane of sight control arm 26 is level with the upper plane of sight housing 17, or when the notch 18 forms a V to frame the perfect sight. If the bow 1 is overdrawn, pressure on the arrow rest 22 will raise sight control arm 26 too high, or if it is not drawn far enough, the sight control arm 26 will be too. low.

To control the rotational position of sight frame and tension control 10, a draw line 28 (shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6) is provided to lift the sight frame 4 and its associated parts upwardly clear of arrow 3 when the bow l is relaxed or in a released position. The draw line 28 includes at each end a hook, 29 and 30, each of which is received, respectively, in one of holes 32 in anchor 31 and in holes 5 of sight frame 4. The anchor 31, shown in FIG. 7, presenting a plurality of holes 32, may be fastened to bow 1 near the top by means of screws (not shown) or the like in holes (not shown) formed in its base 33. As shown in FIG. 2, when the bow 1 is drawn, the anchor 31 is moved down from its normal position, shown in FIG. I, allowing the spring 11 to push sight frame 4 down in line with the arrow 3. It can therefore be seen that the length of draw and therefore the tension in the bow and string required to lower the sight frame and tension control 10 to a position substantially parallel with the arrow 3, as shown in FIG. 2, depends upon the particular holes of holes 32 or holes 5 to which line 28 is hooked. Thus, if hook 30 is fastened into hole A of holes 5 (see FIG. 3) it raises sight housing 17 further than when fastened in hole G. Likewise, if hook 29 is fastened in hole H of holes 32 in the anchor 31 (see FIG. 7), the bow is adjusted for a longer draw, or harder shooting force for further distance than by fastening hook 29 in hole N.

Referring now to FIG. 8, which shows a front sight assembly 35 used in conjunction with the sight frame I0 of the invention, a mounting bracket 36 is provided, and may be mounted on the front of the bow I just above the handgrip, for example, by screws or the like in holes 37 and 38. A slot 40 is formed along a portion of the mounting bracket 36, through which a bolt 9 extends to adjustably attach a front sight thereto. The front sight may also have a slot 41 formed in it thereby allowing adjustment of the front sight to be made either up and down or the right and left, as desired.

In operation, the anchor adjusts the draw line 28, as above described, by fastening the holes 29 and 30 to the proper holes in holes 32 and the anchor 31 and to the holes 5 of the sight frame 4, to achieve the desired arrow flight characteristics.

The archer may use a standard means, such as a mark or ring (not shown) on the bow string 2 so that the arrow may be placed in the exact spot on the bow string each time. With the arrow 3 properly nocked on bow string 3, the bow string 3 is drawn into shooting position (see FIG. 2). As the draw is made, the draw line 28 allows sight frame 10 to lower and line up with arrow 3. The archer then adjusts the draw to allow the arrow rest 22 to come to rest on arrow 3 thereby raising the control arm 26 to a position where the upper plane of sight control arm 26 is perfectly level with the upper plane of sight housing 17. A back sight 18 is then formed by the alignment of the partial V notches in this sight control arm 26 and sight housing 17, allowing the archer to sight through it and line it up with the front sight 35 and with the target (not shown). At this point, the arrow-retaining means I2 is in a position in which prong 13 supports arrow 3 on one side and prong 14 supports it on the other.

When the bowstring and arrow are released, the arrowslides through prongs I3 and I4 at the same time the sight device 4 is raised by draw line 28 as the bow l straightens to its normal relaxed position. The sight device 10 is raised fast enough to completely clear the arrow 3 before the feathers on the back of it reach the arrow-retaining means 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction or operation herein described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Having thus completely and fully described the invention what is now claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a bow having a bowstring, a front sight mounted on said bow, and a sighting frame, said sighting frame comprising, an elongated member hingedly attached at one end to said bow for up-and-down movement and means for downwardly biasing said elongated member, means attached to the top inner surface of said bow for anchoring a line attached thereto, a draw line interconnecting said anchor means and said elongated member, and a back arrow sight carried upon said elongated member at an end away from its hinged attachment to said bow, whereby when movement of said elongated member is actuated by drawing the bowstring said elongated member is lowered by said bias means for said back arrow sight to come into contact with the upper surface of an arrow for sighting with said front sight.

2. The combination of claim 1 further comprising means for retaining an arrow carried by said elongated member at an end away from the hinged connection, said retaining means comprising,

two downwardly extending prongs, one disposed on each side of the arrow when said bow is drawn and said elongated member is lowered.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said back arrow sight comprises,

a mount carried upon said elongated member,

a first sight member affixed to said mount, said first sight member having an upwardly extending surface to define a horizontal line, and additionally having a portion of a notch cut therefrom;

a second sight member rotatably attached to said first member, said second sight member having an upwardly extending portion to define a horizontal line, and having a corresponding notched portion cut therefrom to match and complete the notch cut from said first member to form a V"-shaped sight; and

means for biasing said second member in rotation away from said first; whereby as said elongated member is lowered when the bow is drawn, said second member is brought into contact with the arrow and rotated thereby to bring the notched portions of said first and second members into alignment.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said front sight comprises first and second elongated frames, each of which having an elongated slot cut along a portion of its length to allow adjustment with respect to each other, said second frame being affixed to said bow, means interconnecting said first and second frames through said slot, and an upwardly extending sighting wedge on said first frame,

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said anchor means comprises a base mounted on a top portion of said bow, and a frame carried by said base having a plurality of holes for ad justable attachment of said draw line. 

1. In combination, a bow having a bowstring, a front sight mounted on said bow, and a sighting frame, said sighting frame comprising, an elongated member hingedly attached at one end to said bow for up-and-down movement and means for downwardly biasing said elongated member, means attached to the top inner surface of said bow for anchoring a line attached thereto, a draw line interconnecting said anchor means and said elongated member, and a back arrow sight carried upon said elongated member at an end away from its hinged attachment to said bow, whereby when movement of said elongated member is actuated by drawing the bowstring said elongated member is lowered by said bias means for said back arrow sight to come into contact with the upper surface of an arrow for sighting with said front sight.
 2. The combination of claim 1 further comprising means for retaining an arrow carried by said elongated member at an end away from the hinged connection, said retaining means comprising, two downwardly extending prongs, one disposed on each side of the arrow when said bow is drawn and said elongated member is lowered.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said back arrow sight comprises, a mount carried upon said elongated member, a first sight member affixed to said mount, said first sight member having an upwardly extending surface to define a horizontal line, and additionally having a portion of a notch cut therefrom; a second sight member rotatably attached to said first member, said second sight member having an upwardly extending portion to define a horizontal line, and having a corresponding notched portion cut therefrom to match and complete the notch cut from said first member to form a ''''V'''' -shaped sight; and means for biasing said second member in rotation away from said first; whereby as said elongated member is lowered when the bow is drawn, said second member is brought into contact with the arrow and rotated thereby to bring the notched portions of said first and second members into alignment.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said front sight comprises first and second elongated frames, each of which having an elongated slot cut along a portion of its length to allow adjustment with respect to each other, said second frame being affixed to said bow, means interconnecting said first and second frames through said slot, and an upwardly extending sighting wedge on said first frame.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said anchor means comprises a base mounted on a top portion of said bow, and a frame carried by said base having a plurality of holes for adjustable attachment of said draw line. 